Foul weather threatens second launch of cargo-laden spacecraft

After bad weather prevented the Cygnus spacecraft from launching its payload of supplies to the ISS Thursday, a second attempt faces possible similar troubles.

By
Marcia Dunn, Associated Press /
December 4, 2015

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A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket stands ready for a second launch attempt at launch complex 41at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch scheduled for early evening was scrubbed Thursday because of poor weather conditions.

John Raoux/AP

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Cape Canaveral, Fla.

For the second day in a row, foul weather threatened to stall a critical space station delivery for NASA on Friday.

An unmanned Atlas rocket was poised to lift off at sunset with 7,400 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station. Thursday's launch attempt was rained out. Early Friday afternoon, the forecast improved slightly, with thick clouds still the main concern for the planned 5:33 p.m. liftoff.

The six space station astronauts have gone without U.S. shipments since April. Two private companies hired by NASA to replenish the orbiting lab are stuck on Earth with grounded rockets. Orbital ATK bought another company's rocket, the veteran Atlas V, for this supply mission.

Orbital's last grocery run ended in a fiery explosion seconds after liftoff in October 2014. SpaceX, the other supplier, suffered a launch failure in June.

Russia also lost a supply ship earlier this year. But it's since picked up the slack, along with Japan. A Russian resupply mission, in fact, is scheduled just before Christmas.

Much-needed food is inside Orbital's cargo carrier, named Cygnus after the swan constellation. NASA normally likes to have a six-month stash of food aboard the space station, but it's down a couple months because of the three failed flights. Space station program manager Kirk Shireman expects it will take another year to get the pantry full again — provided there are no more accidents.

Orbital plans to launch another of United Launch Alliance's Atlas rockets in March, then return its own Antares rocket to flight from Virginia in May. SpaceX, meanwhile, aims to restart station deliveries in January with its Falcon rockets.